Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Big time raspberry spice cake. Decadent aromas with gorgeous limestone and complicating aromas of pulverized rock dust. Big jelly donut vibes. Palate is just stunning. Young and a bit inverted but huge chewy depth, raspberry intensity, black cherry intensity and gorgeous, virile tannins. Juicy and so explosive with tiny berry fruit intensity that is a knockout. So complex and juicy and obviously young but in 3-4 hours this will get to 9.8. I know it will. Amazing acidity and it’s insane how much it’s changed since barrel last summer. My god it’s so juicy and decadent. The fruit clarity is off the charts. Unreal purity and density and so so so god damn juicy. — a month ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Killer. Tiny bit of va. Reminds us a lot of Cobb stuff. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Neon pink in color with a peach hue.

Fruity nose and dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity.

Showing dark cherries, raspberries, strawberries, limes, green apples and light spices.

Tangy finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a tasty Rosé from Sonoma County. Crisp and refreshing. Easy drinking and a good food wine.

100% Pinot Noir grapes. A tiny production of only 720 bottles.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$28. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. 100% Chardonnay pale straw color with aromas of stone fruits, floral and citrus notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, peach and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a long finish ending with a yeasty creamy character. Nice! — 7 months ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.4

Great balance. Subtle apple on the palate. Tiny bubbles as you would expect in a premium champagne. December 2024. — 10 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Wow. The nose is neutral. OMG that palate is decadent and severely structured and the most velvety tannins that are squeezing out unreal tiny fruit intensity. This is the most epic Pinot in Oregon. This is a french Grand Cru wine being made in Oregon. Unreal structure, high acid, Inner mouth aromas. Judgement deferred. 9.6 based on past notes. I will follow this over the next few days. After 7 hours nose is more decadent but still not yielding what it can. This will be better tomorrow. Lovely spice but I know what this wine can be. The texture on the palate though is really coming through. Juicy and supple but still clipped finish. But long. 9.6 to 9.7. but I can’t wait for tomorrow. It’s so juicy and so layered. Impressive. Palate is so supple and dense on day 2. Unreal tannins, depth, sweetness and power. 9.7 to 9.8. — a year ago

Vanessa

9.5

Prior notes continue to apply…

When we visited Billecart-Salmon in October of 2021, we received a tour of the stunning estate. Along the way, our guide, Jerome, paused near a traditional “Clos” (a single vineyard, enclosed by a wall) on the property. 

We could see a beautiful stone wall, surrounding a tiny 1 hectare parcel of “Clos Saint-Hilaire,” named after the Patron Saint & local church in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, where Billecart-Salmon is located. 

Although we didn’t go into the Clos, we learned about how special this parcel is to the family; how it’s exclusively planted to Pinot Noir with vines dating back to 1964; how work in the vineyard is performed by hand and horse-drawn plows; how this parcel is farmed according to an age-old savoir-faire, adhering to principles of sustainable viticulture.

The wine is pale gold with a prominent bouquet of yellow apple, Anjou pear, raspberry, lemon curd, white peach, white blossom, desiccated white rose, wet stones, biscuit, brioche, almond paste, marzipan, crusty croissant, pie crust, toast, creamy texture and persistent, fine-beaded mousse and long elegant finish.

This is a 2005 “Blanc de Noirs” Champagne, comprised of 100% Pinot Noir, all coming from Le Clos Saint Hilaire, vinified entirely in oak casks to lend texture and body, and aged over 13 years sur lie prior to its recent release.  Due to the vineyard’s small size, production is very limited, and wine only produced in the best vintages.

Cheers to beautiful wines expressing a singularity of time and place!

Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire (2005).  — 3 months ago

with Deked1

"Odedi"

9.2

Pale lemon in color.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity and tiny bubbles.

Dry on the palate and elegant.

Showing limes, grapefruits, yeast, spices, brioche, minerals, light earth, sea salt and herbs.

Tangy long finish with limes and light almonds.

This is a delicious Non Vintage Champagne. Showing a great mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points. Robert Parker 91 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good right out of the bottle and better with some air time.

Nicely balanced and rich. Good by itself or with food.

A blend of 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

12% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

From 100% Wente clones that get max hang time, large and tiny berries packed together, pale lemon with subtle aromas of citrus and stone fruits. On the palate flavors of apple, lemon and lime flavors, crisp acidity, long finish ending with rich mineral character. Perfect now! — 2 years ago